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Study: Jury pool racial makeup has effect on convictions 

Published: April 25, 2012

Tags: juries, jurors, juyr pools

A study has revealed that the racial makeup of the pool from which juries are selected influences conviction rates – and that having even one African-American member in the pool from which a jury is drawn nearly eliminates the difference.

Prosecutors seek to check criminal history of jurors 

Published: January 27, 2012

Tags: American Civil Liberties Union, background check, Batson, juries, jurors

Prosecutors in New Jersey are asking a court for the birth dates of all potential jurors for purposes of running criminal history checks on them.

Study: Jurors struggle with reckless, knowing conduct 

Published: January 12, 2012

Tags: juries, jurors, knowing conduct, Model Penal Code, reckless conduct

A new study has found that jurors often struggle with how to distinguish reckless or knowing conduct on the part of defendants.

Tweeting and napping jurors give defendant new trial 

Published: December 16, 2011

Tags: juries, jurors, social media, Twitter

A capital murder defendant is entitled to a new trial based on a juror who fell asleep and another who tweeted during the trial.

Going once, going twice, sold! 

By: Sylvia Hsieh
Published: August 30, 2011

Tags: auctions, damages, juries

Growing up as the son of a cattle trader, some of Rafe Foreman’s fondest childhood memories were of going to cattle auctions with Dad – the welcoming crowds, the excitement of the event and the anticipation of some good Texas barbeque.

Calif. jurors face jail time for social media use during trial 

Published: August 16, 2011

Tags: criminal contempt, Facebook, juries, jurors, jury instructions, social media, Twitter

Jurors in California face the possibility of jail time if they violate a new rule prohibiting them from engaging in social media during trial or deliberations.

When jurors zone out 

By: Sylvia Hsieh
Published: July 27, 2011

Tags: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, attention-deficit disorder, juries, jurors, voir dire

If you notice a juror staring off into the vaulted courtroom ceiling during your carefully planned trial, you may have a juror with attention-deficit disorder.

Seven simple steps for picking better juries in short order

By: Richard Gabriel
Published: July 5, 2011

Tags: juries, jurors, jury selection, voir dire

While much has been written and discussed about jury selection, the truth is, we make it much more complicated than it needs to be.

Lawyers USA Columnist Richard Gabriel suggests a few basic steps to simplify the process.

Jury mediation: a new tool to resolve cases

By: Richard Gabriel
Published: March 24, 2011

Tags: juries, jurors, jury mediation, mock juries, settlement negotiations, settlements

Lawyers USA columnist Richard Gabriel has spoken to hundreds of attorneys, judges and mediators about their mediations and settlements over the past year, and has found that the question of whether to settle or take a case to trial contains a fundamental risk analysis: How can a litigant obtain better information to either resolve a case or let a jury check the boxes on a verdict form? To address these concerns, Gabriel has begun conducting jury mediations.

Mistakes lawyers make with their experts 

By: Sylvia Hsieh
Published: March 14, 2011

Tags: expert preparation, expert witnesses, juries, jurors

At best, expert testimony can be the viewfinder that brings blurry evidence into focus for the jury. At worst, an expert witness can confuse, bore or offend a jury.